Former teacher sues family who accused him of sexual misconduct

A former San Jose, Calif., teacher is suing a group of parents and young girls he says defamed him by complaining about his behavior. The San Jose Mercury-News reports that in a defamation trial now underway, the teacher is contending that the ordeal indelibly stained his reputation and ruined his teaching career. The families accused physical education teacher John Fischler of inappropriately touching their two 10- and 11-year-old girls at Holy Spirit Catholic School and peeking in a girls' bathroom. The school, and eventually the police, cleared Fischler of sexual misconduct.